Big Lonesome

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Acclaimed songwriter Marshall Chapman, whose songs have been recorded by Wynonna Judd, Emmylou Harris and Jessi Colter, among others, returns with her 12th album, dedicated to frequent co-writer Tim Krekel, who died in 2009. Only two of the eloquent tunes on the disc were not penned or co-written by Marshall. The Cindy Walker-penned “Going Away Party,” a longtime staple in Marshall’s live performances, appears in her first recorded version. She also covers the Hank Williams classic “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” her warm voice appropriately bluesy and craggy, complemented by a stunning steel guitar solo and subdued background vocals. She continues the tribute to classic country songwriters with the self-penned “Riding With Willie,” a tale of riding on Willie Nelson’s tour bus. Tim Krekel’s son, vocalist Jason Krekel, sings what would have been his father’s part on “Sick of Myself.” She further immortalizes her songwriting partner with “Revisiting Tim,” as well as including two Tim co-writes, “Big Lonesome” and “I Love Everybody,” which comprise a nearly 10-minute live performance from the last concert the pair performed together.